Acropolis Walking Tour and Acropolis Museum Visit

Athens, Greece

Begin your day walking the most beautiful pedestrian street in Athens and visiting the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. This 4-hour tour takes you back to the time Athens became the most powerful city in Greece and the ideals of the western civilization started taking shape. The Sacred Rock of the Acropolis is the long-lasting monument of its supremacy with the Parthenon temple being its centerpiece. Nowadays, most of its treasures are housed in the famous Acropolis Museum, directly across the commanding Acropolis hill.

You will begin your tour from the Acropolis Metro Station, which serves as your meeting point. From there you will head to the most beautiful pedestrian walkway in Athens, Dionysiou Areopagitou street. During this stroll you will engage in a conversation with your licensed tour guide concerning anything you want to know about ancient or even modern Greek history.

On the right, under the shadow of the Acropolis, you will see the Odeon of Herod the Atticus, the main venue of the Greek Festival, hosting top Greek and international artists giving unique performances every summer. As you climb uphill, you will get a clearer glimpse of the religious center of ancient Athens. You will enter the site via the commanding Propylaea building. To the right of the entrance, at the southwest corner of the hill, you will see the restored Temple of Athena Nike.

Definitely the main attraction of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. This architectural marvel was dedicated to the patron of the city, the Goddess Athena, and encompasses all the traits of the ancient Greeks ingenuity and craftsmanship. During the tour you will learn everything there is to know about how important Parthenon is from a historical, cultural, and social point of view. Your expert guide will unravel its multiple symbolism and explain why it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Monument.

Next, you will make a stop in front of the Erechtheion, which took its name from the legendary king Erechtheus. On the south side stands out the famous porch of the Caryatids, six draped female figures that function as supporting columns. The 5 enchanting statues you will see are exact replicas of the originals, which are on display at the Acropolis Museum. Climbing down the Sacred Rock you will pass by the ruins of the Theater of Dionysus, the oldest of its kind in ancient Greece, and the Asklepieion, a healing center dedicated to Asklepios.

Directly across stands the astounding Acropolis Museum, one of the most popular and established in the world. As you wander through its halls you will have the opportunity to see up close truly marvelous exhibits, such as the original Caryatids and the Parthenon frieze marbles. The museum's collection of treasures will offer you a broad perspective of the ancient Greeks' everyday life, as well as showcase the importance of the Acropolis as a World Heritage Site.